Multi-row corn header grooved set

ABSTRACT

A multi-row corn header grooved set allows harvesting with a single com header having fixed distance between rows, for instance at 525 mm, and multiple distancing between rows, for which purpose it bears trimmed or emptied caps on its sides in lieu of conventional headers. Trimmed caps used in combination with lifting sets or grooves designed to form an opening with greater width than that of the transport channel, allows for contact with the plant in a manner such as to avoid rubbing on the most rigid part of the stem, thus preventing shakes, breaks or excessive tilting, which certainly determines the obtention of an effective harvest, upon obtaining ears without practically any waste. That is to say, the grooved set allows that plants entering from outside of the central row of the collection unit reach the same without being cut, broken, shaken or tilted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present-invention relates to the agricultural machinery industry, and more specifically to the platforms or collecting headers of coin harvesters, and in particular refers to the chain-driven collectors or lifting sets or units of the com pontoons used for transporting or dragging harvested ears towards the typical processing-devices existing following the collection header.

That is to say, upon using a new set that allows harvesting corn sown at different distances between the grooves, the invention achieves an effective harvest in every type: of lots, irrespective of the distance apart at which they were sown, without need to make-modifications in the header equipment.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

In the field of agricultural activities, corn harvesting machines are well known, and comprise a com collecting platform or header generally formed by a tubular chassis wherein a certain number of grooves or collection units are arranged at a distance such to make them coincide with the rows of corn plants sown in the lot, so that there are as many grooves in the header as rows intended to be simultaneously harvested.

In Argentina, the usual separation between rows of plants is 525 mm, for which headers of 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 18 are produced, with grooves arranged at such distance, and 700 mm, for which headers of 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 are produced, with grooves for this other distance.

Thus, in order to obtain a higher efficiency in the harvest, it is necessary to transform the header in use for a header that can also harvest at a distance between grooves different from the distance for which it was originally transformed, i.e., it may be necessary to transform a header with a distancing for 525 mm, changing the distances of those grooves to for instance 700 mm, also used in the current state of the art. It further requires that, in addition to moving the set of grooves, the hoods and the conventional caps in use are changed for others suitable for the new distance required; generally, the equipment can be transformed for two different groove sizes, for instance, a header of 16 grooves of 525 mm is currently transformable into one of 12 grooves of 700 mm.

It should also be borne in mind that at this difference in the mentioned distances in the corn sowing, it is possible that, depending on the lots, in one same lot there are different distances between the grooves, due to the fact that the lot had been sown with a machine having a different/width to that of the grooves of the header used for the harvest, and thus the sowing machine has more or less grooves than the header of the harvester, for instance, it the corn was sown with a 13-groove machine and should be harvested with a 18-groove header.

Of course, this would cause a dephasing among the distances of different passes of the seeder. and those corresponding to the passes to be made with the harvester since its header with its grooves would also he dephased and, as a result, the distance between grooves of the seeding and the harvest would not coincide perfectly, as it should.

This is a serious matter in the state of the art, because it causes an ineffective operation of the harvest when the harvesting equipment works badly, causing evident unnecessary losses. As a result of the impact to the plant, this latter is tumbled, broken or shaken, which causes a loss of full ears, due to the fact that the plants do not face the passes defined between the conventional caps, and thus the stem is not conveniently driven towards the bottom of the header through the opening between the caps, and thus no ear is obtained and they neither fail over the corresponding parts of the collection header, for which reason they are dragged for later processing, being lost, clearly affecting significantly the harvest's quality and efficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus a purpose of the present invention to provide trimmed or emptied caps, to obtain an effective corn harvest in a lot that was previously sown, making the seeding with a single multi-row corn collection header, configured at a distance between grooves of, for instance, 525 mm, to harvest in rows with multi-distancing between rows.

This can be achieved if caps different from the conventional caps are used, since, as it could be observed, conventional caps do not allow an effective harvest upon tumbling, shaking or breaking the plant, avoiding the obtention of ears as appropriate and thus leading to their loss.

This may be achieved, as mentioned, by using a design of novel caps trimmed or emptied on Its sides in replacement of the conventional caps described above.

In addition, in order to effectively achieve its purpose the present invention must be combined with the groove corresponding to the groove specified in patent application P090105154, filed on 29 Dec. 2009, under the title: “Lifting set for corn harvester headers”, the groove therein described is the groove actually suitable to harvest optimally in this system.

It is yet another purpose of the present invention to offer a procedure for manufacturing trimmed or emptied caps on its sides with the design mentioned above and the arrangement thereof on a single header having a fixed distancing between rows, for instance, at 525 mm, with multi-distancing among rows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For the sake of clarity and understanding its purpose, the present invention has been illustrated in several figures, wherein the invention has been depicted in its preferred embodiments, namely, but not limited to:

FIG. 1 is a view showing a machine harvesting a lot, wherein the distance between the rows of plants and the grooves is compatible, so that the spaces between the caps coincide with the rows of plants. For a better understanding, numbers (1) to (5) denote the references explained in the description.

FIG. 2 shows the composition of the caps existing in the state of the art in FIG. 2A, through a general view of the conventional caps arranged on a header of such state of the art, wherein (4) indicates the original form of these caps. FIG. 2B shows a view of how a conventional cap contacts the ground, and it can he observed that it contacts the ground practically by resting on the ground with its bottom where (4) and (5) refer to the position of the caps and their action over the plant.

FIG. 3 shows in turn the composition of a cap trimmed or emptied on its sides; FIG. 3A is a specific view thereof, wherein (6) indicates the trimmed cap and (7) the form in which the trimming or emptying was conducted; FIG. 3B shows a view of how a trimmed or emptied cap contacts the ground; in its composition, it can also be observed the difference existing between the trimmed (7) and the conventional (4) cap.

FIG. 4 shows a view as in a conventional groove (2), in spite of the trimmed caps (7). The plant to be harvested (5) contacts the lifting chain just at the height of the front gear, causing a front impact of-the stem that is inconvenient for the com harvest.

FIG. 5 shows-a view as in a groove corresponding to the one specified in P90105154 with trimmed caps. The plants to harvest (5 a) are not aligned in relation to the center of the collecting unit, a row (5 a 1) in the middle of the distance (3) and the other, though not in the middle (5 a 2) does not crash with the lifting chain, and thus reach the diving area without any front impact, thereby allowing a better corn harvest.

FIG. 6 shows a view of some possible combinations among header equipment with grooves at a distance apart of 525 mm with corn plants sown in the lot at a distance apart of 700 mm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Making now reference to FIG. 1, it can be observed how upon harvesting a lot a harvester (1) with a collection header having-grooves at distances equal to the distances between rows (2) will achieve that the rows remain at the mid spaces, among the distances existing between caps (3), being in this case conventional caps (4) existing in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 2. For a better understanding, in this FIG. 1, the number (5) indicates the location of the corn plants and their arrangement in the space (3) of the conventional caps.

FIG. 2, and for better understanding the difference between conventional caps of the state of the art and the trimmed caps of the present invention, FIG. 2A shows a general view of the arrangement thereof.

Likewise, in order to have this difference in mind, FIG. 2B shows how these conventional caps contact the ground, and upon doing so practically lay thereon, which determines that the stems entering front outside the center of the collection unit contact the same at ground level, for which reason they are more exposed to a higher tilting upon contacting the machine, resulting into a higher possibility that these stems be shaken, cut or broken upon rubbing the caps on their more rigid and firm part that is its base, thereby achieving a greater loss of full ears, which is totally inconvenient in order to have an optimal harvest.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement in specific form in FIG. 3A of the trimmed caps, wherein (6) and (7) indicate the trimmed or emptied caps and the side parts with the type of trimming or emptying made thereon, subject-matter of the present invention, to achieve a better yield in the com harvest. To that effect this change to the conventional caps must be combined* in order to obtain an effective production, with the lifting set or groove used in the harvest of the corn sown in two rows pursuant to the description of patent application P090105154 already mentioned above.

The above mentioned of attempting to obtain a better yield of the harvest with this modification (7) made to the conventional caps (4) may be explained upon analyzing what is shown in FIG. 3B, which clearly shows the difference between the use of a conventional cap and the use of a trimmed cap proposed by the present invention, the distance against the ground of the conventional cap (4) which is (D1) practically of dragging on the ground, when in turn the distance of the trimmed cap (6) is (D2) greater than the previous one, given that the emptied part of its sides (7) allows it to have an arrangement farther to the ground and therefore at a greater height, allowing this distance (D2), thus, affecting the com plant at a distance higher than its base, for which reason the effects of the crash shall cause a lower tilting, shaking, etc., since when the contact is higher, the plant is less affected and thus the corn ear collection is better, that is to say, it can be clearly observed how, upon being modified by means of a side cut to the caps, these allow that the contact with the plant is made at a greater height, achieving a lower tilting of the plant, in addition to avoiding the rubbing on the base of the stem, that may cause the break thereof.

In order to understand the problem posed, even with this cut on a conventional groove, FIG. 4 should be analyzed, which shows that upon using the trimmed caps (6) with emptied parts (7) and running at an habitual or conventional distance between rows (2) among corn plants (5), the plant will contact the lifting chain just at the height of the front gear, in which position the bucket or addition thereto has a tangential speed close to the double speed it has on its lineal round, which causes hazardous shakes of the plants at distant areas from the cornhusker rods, in addition to loss of ears, ail of which may create a front impact to the stem against the gear chain, causing its break, which shall be even more serious if it happens at a lower height.

This can be solved through the use already mentioned of the lifting set or groove subject-matter of patent application P090105154, and that is used when plants are harvested in two: rows, always in combination with the trimmed or emptied caps subject-matter of the present invention, since the corn is planted as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the distance between the trimmed caps is (3), the plants (5 a 1) and (5 a 2), are on single row at a distance (D3), i.e. in the known form, and the references (6) and (7) indicate the caps modified by the present invention and how the trimming or emptying sought is performed.

In addition, FIG. 5 shows that the distance between the spoon or bucket of the lifting chain close to crash with the plant (D4) is clearly bigger than that of the transport channel, because, as determined by application P090105154, the chassis of the lifting set shows two parallel arms on each of which each lifting chain is mounted, wherein each arm has a front portion facing the plants, in this case (5 a 1) and (5 a 2), during the harvest, but where the front parts are tilted towards the outside, thus forming an opening or distance (D4) bigger than the width of the transport channel, i.e. the chains show a parallel stretch wherein the chains are parallel arranged along the transport channel, and another one tilted wherein the chains are tilted, far from one another and therefore at such end the distance between the spoons is higher, as mentioned, allowing the plant (5 a 2) not to be crashed from its front but rather with the emptying of the cap (7), and the tilting of the front portion that determines the distance (D4) between the spoons, thus making that these plants that enter from outside the central row of the collection unit reach the same without being cut, broken, shaken or tilted.

Having thus analyzed so far the necessary background to understand the subject-matter of the present invention, it is worth analyzing the novelty in harvesting optimally with a single header whose distancing between rows is fixed, for instance, at a distance of 525 mm and having multi-distancing between the plantation rows.

It is now necessary to analyze how this combination of headers with trimmed caps and the above-mentioned grooved sets claimed in patent application P090105154 quoted above, allow an optimization in the harvest. As it can be observed in FIG. 5, the plants are misaligned in relation to the center of the collection unit, reaching the driving area without shakings, thus avoiding every risk thereby implied given that the plant contacts the lifting chain at an area where it describes a lineal stretch, and therefore once it reaches the center of the collection unit, the curve described is minimal and immediately taken by the cornhusker rods.

For a better understanding, this figure contains references, as the difference between caps (3), (5 a 1) and (5 a 2), of the first plants in a simple line of rows that will be taken by the cornhusker rods, wherein (D3) is the distance between them, and (6) and (7) are the trimmed caps and the part of the emptied cut that allows reaching the subject-matter of the present invention. It can also be observed that the plant (5 a 1) is just in the mid-space between the caps and the plant (5 a 2) is misaligned but without the possibility of crashing the lifting chain, but, as described, shall contact the same properly, and so will happen with the other rows of plants in the lines.

That is to say, that the trimmed cap contacts the stem or com stalk at a higher length in rows that enter outside of the central row of the collection unit. This will allow achieving several essential aspects for the present invention, such as significantly reducing the plant's tilting upon the contact, avoiding the friction on the most rigid and firm part of the stem that may cause its break and therefore loss of full ears, in addition to favoring the soft sliding thereof which avoids inconvenient shakes with possible loss of ears. This also causes an unnecessary wear of the tip, which determines a greater useful life of it and the existence of lower power consumption.

That is to say, it allows the plants that enter outside of the central line of the collection unit to reach the same without being cut, broken, shaken or tilted, which determines the indubitable optimization of the corn harvest.

So far, we thoroughly analyzed the convenience of a modification of the conventional caps in novel trimmed or emptied caps for the harvest, specially the significance gained by this modification for its combination with the lifting or grooved set specified in patent application P090105154 already mentioned, although it has not been analyzed how this could favorably influence upon trying to harvest with a single header having a fixed row distancing at, for instance, 525 mm, and multiple distancing between lines.

FIG. 6 analyzes, by way of example, the operation of the present invention for plant plantation at a distance of 700 mm between rows in the rows of lines (12). This distance was elected for being habitual in the state of the art, and taking headers with-different options as those indicated in the figure, (13) for 13 grooves of 525 mm, (14) for 14 grooves of 525 mm, (15) for 16 grooves of 525 mm, and (16) for 17 grooves of 525 mm, and wherein it is also analyzed the results: of harvest with the first option (13) on a rose bush of 11 lines of plants (8), the second (14) with 12 lines (9), the third (15) with 13 (10), and the fourth (16) with 14 lines (11).

By analyzing the possibility of the first option (13), for a row of 11 lines, it is observed that the first plant will be exactly in the middle of the separation between the caps, for which reason the harvest is performed like in the prior art, without any loss of ears. However, the following two plants shall be taken from the side of the caps, and thus run the emptied part thereof, as previously described, which will allow obtaining a better possible harvest with less loss of ears, and likewise will alternatively occur until reaching plant No. 10 of the row, since in plant No. 11 this option (13) cannot act due to the fact that the last cap is not reached.

In the second option (14) we see that also plant No. 11 of the row can be reached, i.e. with 1 more groove on the header we can increase a further tow in the harvest.

It can likewise be observed that by increasing the header to 16 grooves of 525 mm, the harvest can be extended to 13 rows, but when taking the header to 17 grooves, although the number of rows does not increase but remains in 13, the last plant will be in the middle of the distance between caps, for which reason its harvest shall suffer no loss, thus improving its yield.

Therefore, it can be analyzed that in addition to the improvement in the corn harvest, that determines the novel modification of the side emptying of the caps at the headers, its composition according to a single header with a fixed distancing between lines of, as in the present example, 525 mm with different groove options, its combination with the use of the grooves as those described in

patent application P090105154, and the plantation distances of the lot, in this case 700 mm, results in obtaining a true optimization in the corn harvest upon causing it to be performed with a total concept of multi-rows.

Of course that analyzed for a 700 mm distancing, it can be used for other distancing, for instance, for 420 mm distancing between grooves, for the first option (13), the plant row will have 17 lines, 4 plants shall be in the middle distance between the caps and 13 will be on the sides and shall be driven by the trimmed caps. For the second option (14) there will be 4 in the middle and 18 lines on the sides, on the third option (15) there will be 20 plants, 4 in the middle and 16 on the sides, achieving a better yield for the fourth option (16) where there will be 22 lines on the sides and 5 plants in the middle, i.e. for this situation, the yield is much higher to the yield obtained in the planting at 700 mm between grooves.

The yield analyzed for the example of 700 mm is more or less kept for a planting of up to 900 mm between grooves where on the ends the caps cannot act on any plant, but the harvest levels are somehow less, though close to those already seen.

In turn, in an planting at 1500 mm, the option (13) shall only have 1 plant in the middle and 4 on the sides, there remaining 5 caps non-operating; on no plant does this yield improve upon increasing to 17 grooves 525 mm per header, where 1 plant will stay in the middle and 5 plants on the sides, but 6 headers will not act with any plant; upon increasing the plantation to 2100 mm, there will be less plants to harvest: 4 for option (13) and 5 for option (16), but all of them with a fully efficient harvest as a result of being in the middle of the distance between the headers, although in this case not all the headers will run, since in the first case over 14 caps, 6 will not act and in the second, on 17 caps, 8 will not run.

Likewise, where these examples combine sets of the corn header with trimmed caps on its sides in combination with the grooves or lifting sets analyzed of patent application P090105154, which have plantings at different distances apart, show that effectively one single header with a fixed distancing between rows, as in the example herein illustrated in FIG. 6, with a distance of 525 mm, can operate in multiple distances between lines with high yield in the harvest without need of having to arrange a different header for each case and adapted for every situation, which will surely allow a better efficiency, optimum harvest yield, and mainly a great economy on the use of the available resources.

It can also be considered that the side trimming or emptying of the caps on the corn header containing them must be modified to overcome the problem in the prior art, the design of the type and measure of the trimming or emptying to he made must be done and how the header should be inserted for a fixed distancing between rows to, as in the present case 525 mm or any other necessary, to achieve a multi-distancing between lines, which design requires a procedure consisting on manufacturing the new trimmed caps and their insertion into the header to form the groove set of the multi-row corn header subject-matter of the present invention.

This manufacture is achieved upon developing the mentioned design, doing as necessary to obtain the new trimmed headers on its sides and being inserted into the suitable corn header, allowing, with a suitable effort, to achieve the efficient and effective use of the system upon combining it with the lifting sets or grooves already mentioned.

As it may be observed from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a novel form of harvesting with a single corn header with fixed distancing between rows, in this example, at 525 mm, with the option of setting another distance, with multiple distancing between rows; which is achieved by a combination of trimmed or emptied headers on its sides and the lifting sets or grooves already disclosed in patent application P090105154, without causing damages or losses in production.

In addition, it provides for a procedure for the manufacture of the trimmed tips and the arrangement thereof on the container corn headers. 

1. A multi-row corn header grooved set that allows to harvest with a single corn header having fixed distance between rows, multiple distancing between rows, characterized in that it comprises a header of trimmed or emptied caps on its sides in combination with lifting sets or grooves forming an opening with a greater width than that of the transport channel.
 2. A procedure to manufacture the set of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises of developing the design of the trimmed or emptied caps of the sides to obtain the intended form. 